Were you always a reader?

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 12:30

Unfortunately, I was not always a reader. Having parents whose native language wasn't English and going to school mixing up my grammar made me extremely self-conscious. Because of this, I started to stutter a bit while reading aloud for class, which obviously didn't help the situation. It was only when I first read Harry Potter in middle school for a book report that my eyes began to the magical world of reading.

Here I am today - very much an avid reader!

dunappy · Post by **dunappy** » 04 Apr 2016, 12:50

I'm a born reader. I was reading early and by the time they did the testing in 3rd grade, I was reading at a 6th grade level. When then did the testing in 6th grade, I was reading at a 12th grade level. In the 7th and 8th grade, one of my elective classes was as a teacher's aide in the Library. Big mistake! I read over 250 books each year in the span of a 180 day school year. When I got in trouble, Mom would send me to my room. Well that wasn't much punishment because I had books to read. She finally learned that the punishment for me would have to be washing dishes. I hated doing the dishes and would hide in the closet with my books and a flashlight.

MatthewAlexander · Post by **MatthewAlexander** » 04 Apr 2016, 13:27

I wasn't. I didn't start reading for fun until middle school, when kids started getting mean and it was easier to read than deal with other people. I'm the same way still, I read when things get a bit too complicated for my liking.

Linda2017 · Post by **Linda2017** » 04 Apr 2016, 14:39

I have been a reader as well as a lover of the written word for as long as I can remember. I can still recall using my library card as a child and taking out the maximum of books allowed! I am one of those people who read the back of cereal boxes!!

Heather Fawn · Post by **Heather Fawn** » 04 Apr 2016, 16:25

Since I was a child I have loved reading. I remember my mom would always read me stories when going to bed. She was a very avid reader herself and I would watch her read every night before she went to bed which made me want to do the same. I can remember going to the library as a child and being so excited to pick out whichever book I wanted. I am in college now, and have much less time to read anything other than textbooks but I still seek out new books and series to read. On average I read two to three books a month, but if I had my way I would read so many more.

kl23 · Post by **kl23** » 04 Apr 2016, 16:49

Definitely! I always enjoyed reading, and escaping into stories, particularly fantasy stories, where there was a whole new world to discover, without ever leaving a comfy chair, and a cup of tea of course!

RavelleWriter · Post by **RavelleWriter** » 04 Apr 2016, 18:22

I remember my favourite book as a child was a picture book of children from around the world. I loved learning all their names, and customs. I think this book instilled a great interest in travel in me at a young age and this is a great pleasure for me whenever I can get away.

abithacker · Post by **abithacker** » 04 Apr 2016, 18:23

Yes. Ever since I could hold up a book I have had my head buried in one. I love stories, and there is no better vessel for a story that a book. I loved how books were like movies in my head, but they were movies that I could pause when ever I wanted to, and go a re-read a certain part as many times as I wanted too. They are even better than movies, though, because of how much information can be packed into a book. You can get one thing from a book the first time you read it, and then once you read it a second time or a third you notice something new or you find a new theme or message that you never saw before.

Aferguson1413 · Post by **Aferguson1413** » 04 Apr 2016, 20:58

I remember spending lots of time in the library in elementary school. I was even the assistant librarian. I don't remember learning to read but I remember I have always loved to.

rebelfleur · Post by **rebelfleur** » 04 Apr 2016, 22:15

I realized I was a reader very young probably around 9 or even younger than that. I used books to keep my mind preoccupied as i am a only child. I love reading and wish i entered a career where i could be able to read and write how i feel about a particular story. I am sort of at a cross road in life right now.

HGBtlusty1 · Post by **HGBtlusty1** » 05 Apr 2016, 17:15

I have been an avid reader ever since I can remember. I entered kindergarten as the only student in my class who could read fluently and have never looked back.

Shwiggie_99 · Post by **Shwiggie_99** » 05 Apr 2016, 22:09

I found books as a young kid, things like R.L. Stein and other YA books. I enjoyed reading, but I had many interests which included movies, sports, and art. I reached a point when my academic goals were steered towards business and I lost touch with my love of art and reading, and it was not until I was in college (failing in business school) that I decided I needed to read things that I wanted to read.

My first book that re-introduced me to literature was Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, I was COMPLETELY captivated, not only by the story-telling ability of Steinbeck, but by the way he wrote. I literally fell in love, I sat up late at night and would read, and ultimately ended up changing my major to a soft science that focused on reading and sociology instead of business.

I still read in Feast & Famine settings, finding genre's and themes I devour and read 2 or 3 books a month (a lot for me), but then there are times when I can't bring myself to pick up a book. My final ahh-hah (spelling?) moment came when I realized that I could love literature without having to also be an amazing author. I could be a patron of the arts by loving the books I read, and learned to stop focusing on my inability to reproduce something as amazing and wonderful as Steinbeck or other epic authors.

Side note, the effect Grapes of Wrath had on me personally was so profound I literally commemorated it permanently as a tattoo on my leg. I have a tattoo of the man on the tractor from Chapter 5 in the story. Steinbeck's words about the tractor "raping the earth methodically, and without passion" were so vivid, so deeply moving and painted a picture of just how scary and horrible times were during the Great Depression during the dust bowl era.

I look to books to be moving, inspiring, captivating and amazing.

Christina9030 · Post by **Christina9030** » 06 Apr 2016, 08:47

I've always loved reading since I was little and first learned how to read. Before that my parents would read to me. Once I learned how to read I was always reading and my mom had to keep taking me to the library or bookstore because I would finish so many books so quickly. I still am an avid reader and always have a book on the go, reading just as fast as I used to.

brie32 · Post by **brie32** » 06 Apr 2016, 09:15

I wasn't an avid reader until after high school when I picked up the book we all know, Twilight. It was after that, that I started reading regularly. I love to read young adult novels and fantasy. However, one of my favorite authors is Mitch Albom. In fact I keep all his books sitting on my fireplace mantel, For One More Day being my favorite of them all! Reading is now one of my favorite things to do, a way to just escape life for a while.

Abbie2212 · Post by **Abbie2212** » 06 Apr 2016, 10:45

No, I was not always a reader. However about 10 years ago I started reading a book and haven't stopped. Wish I would of loved to read when I was in college, would have made that process a lot better. Thank goodness, my 9 year old son loves to read.